SITTING IN Seniors helping seniors through TRIP

Friday

May 31, 2013 at 12:01 AMMay 31, 2013 at 8:55 AM

Participants of the year-old TRIP Metro North program from Mystic Valley Elder Services are all but singing its praises – and getting to critical doctors' appointments, meetings, and important social gatherings.

Erin Kate Ryan

Participants of the year-old TRIP Metro North program from Mystic Valley Elder Services are all but singing its praises – and getting to critical doctors' appointments, meetings, and important social gatherings.

Stoneham residents Alice Kennedy and Cecelia LaMattina became acquainted when their husbands died. Although only a year or so separates them in age, Alice still drives and is able to extend rides to Cecelia, who has lost sight in one of her eyes and suffered from leg problems in recent years.

Alice takes Cecelia where she needs to go, and together they keep track of her mileage. At the end of each month, the TRIP program sends Cecelia a reimbursement check so that she can give something back to Alice.

"It makes me feel good because I enjoy her company, too. And with the price of gas so high, the reimbursement helps," Alice said.

Many participants noted that the reimbursement aspect made a significant difference in their willingness to seek out a driver.

"This program makes the difference between imposing and not imposing on a friend," explained one participant from Melrose.

The TRIP program is open to adults 60 years and older and adults of all ages living with disabilities who are not drivers and who live in Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, or Wakefield. There's no requirement that drivers live in those cities or

towns.

Marie Darnell, 80, of Wakefield, was able to use the TRIP program to visit her husband in a Wilmington nursing home before he died. Now, she travels into town once a week with her TRIP driver.

"That one day a week, I've been able to get to the bank, do my shopping and many other

things," she said.

"The best thing about this program for me is that it has enabled me to visit with my best friend and to get to doctor's appointments on time," said a participant from Medford. "And my TRIP driver has been a great companion for me. She's made sure I don't fall and has helped me lift items into the shopping carriage. She's really been wonderful."

Through the TRIP program, participants make arrangements with friends, neighbors, or other folks interested in helping out (including relatives, in some special cases) to drive them where they need to go.

TRIP is a one-on-one program: the passenger and driver make their own schedule. However, TRIP participants are also welcome to work with more than one driver at a time, if that's what suits their needs.

Meanwhile, Alice and Cecelia are forming a lasting friendship.

"A lot of my other friends aren't able to get out much anymore," Alice said. "I really didn't know Cecelia well before TRIP. Through this program, we've discovered we have a lot in common. We talk about our families. We both like shopping and Bingo. And we're both from Charlestown. This program has given me someone to go out with, as well."

Nowadays, Cecilia and Alice play Bingo regularly at the Wakefield and Stoneham Councils on Aging.

"Even though I often think that I would just rather stay home, Alice makes me go out. Then I go, and I feel better. She gets me motivated and keeps me going. It's very good for me," Cecelia said. "TRIP is a godsend."

"Because of TRIP, we've also met a lot of nice people and made some friends at the Wakefield and Stoneham senior centers," said Alice. "We've also learned about other activities there; we just went to an ice cream social in Stoneham."

For more information about qualifying for TRIP Metro North, call (781) 324-7705.

Mystic Valley Elder Services provides key resources, support, and information to elders, adults living with disabilities, and caregivers living in Everett, Malden, Medford, Melrose, North Reading, Reading, Stoneham, and Wakefield. More information can be found at www.mves.org